Businesses across the town have started to reopen over the past two weeks as lockdown restrictions ease, and it's hoped the new scheme will encourage hungry diners to eat out during August and give a much needed boost to the local economy.
The Government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme offers a 50% reduction on diners' food bill, up to a maximum of £10 off per person. The scheme is open to any pub, restaurant, bar, café and other establishments serving dine-in food and non-alcoholic drinks.
Vouchers aren't required as the discount is automatically taken off the bill, however any participating businesses must sign up to the scheme to take part.
Among those in Middlesbrough is The Chairman bar and restaurant on Bedford Street, which is already enjoying a return to some normality and is welcoming back customers with a number of safety measures such as hand sanitisers on entry, signage reminders, and socially distanced tables.
Staff have also introduced a new summer drinks menu to welcome customers back and their popular Sunday lunches and bar menu have also returned.
Staff at Artizan bar on Roman Road in Linthorpe have used the recent downtime to update the bar with some impressive renovation work which includes a new outdoor roof terrace area and a new kitchen which will serve light bites.
Mieka Smiles, Executive Member for Culture and Communities said: "It's brilliant to see people are starting to eat out again in our local restaurants and visit their local pubs. We really want the public to feel safe if they are heading out, and our local businesses have done a sterling job in implementing the appropriate health and safety measures.
"The Government's new Eat Out to Help Out scheme is fantastic - families and friends will be able to get a really good discount off their food bill, and the fact that businesses can claim this money back means they can begin to confidently welcome back their much loved customers again."
- Businesses can sign up for the scheme at this link -gov.uk/guidance/register-your-establishment-for-the-eat-out-to-help-out-scheme
